Sermon at FFMC (25/8/24) -The King’s Introduction - The King’s Ministry

 ¹² Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. ¹³ And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴ so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

¹⁵ “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
    the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
¹⁶ the people dwelling in darkness
    have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
    on them a light has dawned.”

¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

¹⁸ While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”^{[b] 20} Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ²¹ And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. ²² Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

²³ And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. ²⁴ So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. ²⁵ And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. (Matthew 4:12-25)

 

Introduction

Jesus’ 3-year ministry starting at age 30 (Lk 3:23) has traditionally been divided into 3 parts: 

a year of obscurity, a year of popularity and a year of increasing rejection.

 In that sense He is not like his cousin John the Baptist who suddenly bursts on the scene. Jesus does not start the public phase of His ministry until John has been arrested, to be beheaded later. Jesus in a way waits until John is off the stage before He begins to become prominent in His own right.

  “From that time” (4:17) is also found in 16:21.

 

This is a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. This is when Jesus goes public. Before that time Jesus has called for disciples, performed a few miracles, and spoken to individuals. Now He extends His ministry to crowds. Before this time, few had heard of a carpenter from Nazareth, but now He will be famous.

 The passage tells us at least 4 things about Jesus’ public ministry:

1. A ministry planned and prepared for by God
2. A ministry of proclamation
3. A ministry of power
4. A ministry to be participated in

1. A ministry planned and prepared for by God (v. 12-16)

He begins in Galilee. This is the region northwest of the Sea of Galilee (not actually a salt water sea, but a lake – Lake Gennesaret). We hear ‘Galilee’ nowadays and all kinds of nice ideas come to mind, but in the days of Jesus, Galilee was really a despised, ‘ulu’ area – like a bad part of town. Galileans had a different accent (Mt 26:69) and were generally despised and discriminated against (Jn 7:51-52). This was because although there were Jews living there the region was full of Gentiles since the time of the Assyrian conquest of the northern kingdom of Israel in 722BC. It was the ancestral home of the tribes of Zebulun and Napthali, and was called the “way of the sea” because if was where everyone from the north would pass for trade, or for war. So Samaritans were the lowest class of people in Jesus’ time, but Galileans were not far behind.

The reason why I am spending time on this is because Matthew quotes the prophet Isaiah (9:1-2) writing 600 years before Jesus. 

Isaiah also refers to the miserable state of Galilee. He says that God had ‘brought them into contempt’ and calls them ‘people who walked in darkness’ ‘dwelling in the region and shadow of death’.

 God brought Galilee low, but now He raises Galilee up. He has broken, but He restores. He has made them into an object of scorn and ridicule, but now the name of Galilee will be praised. This is because God will walk there in the flesh and show them His great light.

God is wise and gracious and powerful. At the right time, He brings honour and rescue. So if you feel that you are despised, looked down on, in constant difficulty, with unending troubles, inferior, undervalued– remember, God has brought you there for His good and loving purposes. There will be a time when the great light of the King shines on you. It may take a long time – remember that it was 600 years before God’s promise through Isaiah came to pass. You may have to wait for His work. At the right time, you will see His smile.

God has a word for the despairing who are in difficulty- trust His  timing to act. Wait patiently for the King’ ministry .Endure.

2. A ministry of proclamation (v.17)

Jesus’ message (4:17) is exactly the same as that of John the Baptist: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt 3:2)  The kingdom of God/heaven simply put, refers to where God is king –where He rules. The kingdom began to be clearly seen at Jesus’ first coming, and it will come in fullness when He comes again. Jesus taught many things about the kingdom, but I think it is significant that the main theme - the great proclamation of Jesus and John the Baptist was that people must repent because He was bringing in the Kingdom.

 Once we come under the rule of God, we no longer rule ourselves. We must turn away from our old way of life and embrace the rule of the King. This is repentance. It is turning around reorienting our life. We may ‘confess’ our sins daily, but this is different from repenting. We do not ‘repent’ on a daily basis.  We repent when something deeper and more fundamental changes inside. Jesus demands a radical change of life. To the comfortable, settled soul, content with life and unwilling to change, He says that we must either accept His rule or be outside His kingdom. This is not a popular message. No one likes to be made uncomfortable. So the King calls to each one of us – those who have stopped fighting with our sins and have made a comfortable truce with them – those who dull their ears to God because life is easy and change is hard. Some of us are coasting with the current and not fighting the good fight of faith. Our manner of living, our behaviour, our values and our priorities are no different from that of unbelievers. Our Sunday church attendance is a social practice. God is not really the centre of our lives.

God proclaims to tthe complacent – turn now while you can. Submit fully to the rule of the King. If you want to find true Christian life, you must die to your old ways.

 3. A ministry of power (v. 23-25)

Three observations:
a) The passage tells us that God’s power is used to support God’s truth. Jesus taught those already familiar with His message and proclaimed the message of the Kingdom to those who were not, but He was different from  other teachers – He healed the sick and drove out demons.  His power gave weight and authority to his teaching.

b) The power of Jesus was completely sufficient. He healed ‘every disease and every affliction’ in ‘all the sick’. The power of God was enough then, and it is enough now. It would be a mistake to say that God does not heal miraculously in this day and age – He does! If we do not experience more miracles and healings it is very possible that this is because we do not ask of Him in faith. It would also be a mistake to say that God always heals miraculously in this day and age. Scripture is clear that that does not always happen. Between the first and second comings of Jesus, all physical healing is temporary. Yet the ministry of Jesus gives a foretaste of the time to come when there will truly no longer be sickness and evil, when the Kingdom comes in fullness.

c) The power of Jesus was displayed exactly where and in whom it was needed. “all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics” is 5-6 categories of people. (BTW the gospel writers distinguish between physical sickness and demon possession). God knows exactly what you and I need from Him. His powerful ministry to use is very personal.

God has a word for the needy and suffering – come to Him and ask for help, trusting that He knows exactly what your need is. You have nothing to lose

4. A ministry to be participated in (v.18-22)

We read in John 1:35-42 that Simon Peter and Andrew had been followers of Jesus for about a year, but this time, Jesus calls them to fully follow Him. He also calls James and John. Jesus asks them to fulfil their initial commitment, forsaking family and ordinary work.

 Jesus always demands everything from His followers. Often He doesn’t demand it all at once, For each one of us, that the time may come when Jesus calls us to greater and higher purposes where the extent of our commitment is challenged.

We belong to the King. He has made us and bought us with His blood. We do not “follow our heart” but we follow Jesus, so that we can become’ fishers of men’.

 Jesus came to live a perfect life and to die on the Cross to pay for our sins and to make us righteous, but there is no doubt that the benefits of His work would not have been applied to us today without the preparation and empowerment of frail, sinful human beings. Jesus’ ministry was continued in the world through His followers (Ac 1:1-2). Even today, the will of the King is carried out by the King’s loyal subjects.

If you are a loyal subject of the King, you will want to be used by Him and to participate in His work.  Just like Peter and Andrew, some of us are being called by Him to higher levels of commitment and service. Step out in faith.

Summary

Jesus’ ministry has not changed in the last 2000 years. It is still a ministry prepared by God, who is working out His perfect will in the world towards His goals. Even today we proclaim the gospel and tell people to repent. Even today God shows His power in ordinary and miraculous ways, and even today He calls us to work with Him.

 

So come – those who are looked down on and feel inferior  – trust that God will exalt you in His time.

Come – those who see that they have never really surrendered to the authority and rule of the King – break free from the deadness of your lives. Repent. He will receive and cleanse you so that you find real life and joy in Jesus.

Come – those who are needy, sick and troubled by evil. God knows you better than you know yourself. He will help you at your point of need.

And come, those who already follow the King. Perhaps today He is confirming a call to a different level of service and devotion. Come with joy and anticipation. His blessing awaits you.

Video: Sermon - 25 Aug 2024.mp4